Previously on Top Chef: Texas — Meatball controversy! Wait, what?
As the chefs think about Beverly, they are a bit mixed — Sarah and Lindsay clearly hated her, while Grayson and Edward liked her. I can’t get a good read on Paul, though. Charlize Theron stops by and says that she is a “nerdy fan” of Top Chef — SURE, you are, but the chefs are won over — let’s just say they wouldn’t have snubbed Charlize Theron like the Academy Awards recently did (SNUB). And then it’s on to the kitchen again! Chef Cat Cora shows up with Emeril, pimping her new Bravo show — cross promotion that’s a bit more logical than last week’s. And then Padma splits up the confchefstants into teams for our new Challenge!
We hear an obvious overdub of Padma as she explains the Quickfire Challenge, a disqualification speed challenge. First each team must prepare two pounds of shrimp, a crate of corn, and homemade fettuccine, then they must use those in a great dish — but only if they’ve passed the checks for each item. Paul thinks he and Ed are bad luck … and sure enough, he forgets the shrimp and they are disqualified. Or perhaps it’s the producers who have “forgot” for him, hmm? Gotta keep things interesting. Padma’s utter horror and Sarah’s smugness is fantastic to behold.
But it’s Grayson and Chris who win for their fettuccine with toasted corn and poached shrimp — but no immunity, is that a bad sign? As Sarah grouses that she didn’t lose, Cat Cora merely hates tarragon. Yeah, but tarragon isn’t that great, so I’m with Cat. Then, boom, it’s time for the big show: The Elimination Challenge. The Charity Child Hunger Ends Here is sponsoring a food drive and huge block party event, so it’s time to make some food! But then: A Twist! The chefs must compete against their team member on a dish they both choose, and the party attendees will vote for the loser! Easy enough, and then: Another Twist!
Because the charity is sponsored by Healthy Choice, they must make a healthy version of their idea. So no larded bacon or baconated lard this time around. Edward is worried about going against Paul for their Asian style BBQ beef, but wants to go against the best. Yeah, not feeling too good about Ed’s chances this week. Lindsay and Sarah are doing meatballs … hey, wait a minute. What’s with this bizarre meatball story arc?
Well, it doesn’t matter, because Paul wins (surprise? Not really, but this guy’s awesome) for his flavorful turkey kalbi with a hot sauce that Tom demands he bottle immediately. NOW, Paul! Tom will totally buy a case of it. Grayson, who’s also in the top three, totally calls out Tom for his meatball nonsense from last week — a ha! MEATBALL CLOSURE! But not everyone can be a winner, and due to his chicken salad sandwich that just doesn’t measure up, the remaining Chris is sent off to face Beverly in the online Last Chance Kitchen “Mystery Box – What’s in the Box?” challenge … Spoiler: Beverly stays in it and is told there’s just one more chef to beat! Can she do it? Watch for yourself to see how it went down…
Clacked by Jeremy Fogelman 
on Jan 26, 2012 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
Great Post!
And I can’t wait to see the faces of the other contestants when Beverly sashays back in, hope she wears cowboy boots and stomps them all :-)